Councillor Tony Belton’s Battersea March 2021, Newsletter (# 141)
- In January, it was politics, which
were so strange, but in February it was the weather! Starting with one of the longest, coldest hard spells in recent history, the month ended in almost balmy, spring warmth. Dogs and kids of all ages enjoyed the start. I am afraid that I have reached the stage of very much preferring the warmth of the last few days!
- The public political world has been rather quiet, with the one exception of
the tree, variously described as a black poplar, a horse chestnut, and a London Plane and photographed the day before it became a cause celebre, a day before it was “occupied” by Extinction Rebellion and other good, worthy causes. You will not be surprised to know that I, and my fellow councillors, have received emails aplenty in defense of the tree claiming that it had stood there a hundred plus years and seen two World Wars and that to bring its life to an end was an act of needless vandalism, which we should resist at all costs. It is undeniably a grand tree and it will be undeniably a sad day when and if the tree does go, but no one should imagine that its loss was an act of needless vandalism, done almost for the fun of it.
- Just look at Pennethorne House, the grey, concrete slab block close behind on the right of the tree. It is one of three slab blocks, the other two being Scholey and Holcroft Houses, which are the main feature of the York Road estate, so often lumped together as part of the Winstanley Estate. They are also the core of a community, which suffers from one of the highest deprivation levels in the UK. An hour or two spent delivering leaflets, something I have done for many years on that estate, will introduce you to a brutalist concrete physical environment. It is no surprise to me that the social problems found here are the greatest in Wandsworth, nor that, most regrettably, it has been the scene of murders and domestic abuse. The 2012 Council plan to regenerate, ok let’s be honest about it, to demolish and rebuild the estate was agreed unanimously. And frankly, I do not see too many of the worthy, green protesters wishing to live in these three blocks.
- Agreed that demolition of the worst blocks does not of itself demand loss of the tree, but government no longer subsidises council house building and hence the council has to pay for the work. To do that it has to raise taxes, i.e. Council Tax, which is not actually a viable option thanks to government legislation, or to borrow money or to sell assets. Indeed, selling assets was and is considered the only feasible option. The assets to be sold are the private flats constructed in the new tall, white Duval House, built opposite the Grant Road entrance to Clapham Junction station, and in the other for sale blocks, yet to be built. These considerations have meant reconfiguring the development programme. In fact, there will be some 40 more new trees after the programme is finished than there are now although, of course, to start with they will be semi-mature trees or saplings and not mature, or aging, trees.
- We, three Latchmere councillors, have asked for a review of the build
programme, but just for the record, the high capacity cable that is planned for where the tree now stands is not like your average domestic electric cable that you can wind round the furniture. Nor is the timing a matter of a day or two here and there. Any delay now is holding up the provision of some 150 new council homes and judging by the quality of the newly built Mitchell House, shown here, that would be a grossly unfair penalty to impose on the current inhabitants of the estate.
- I had the Planning Applications Committee (PAC) on 24th
None of the applications was of note to anyone but the immediate neighbours. Unusually, however, people might be interested in an enforcement action that we agreed. It was about this building that you may have noticed at the corner of Prince of Wales Drive and Battersea Park Road, where they meet near the Dogs’ Home. This building, called Creative House, was built with permission for 16 flats and a ground floor shop, but has been used for some time as a “luxury AirBNB” base for London. The Committee decided, on the officers’ recommendation to start enforcement action to have it converted back to residential accommodation.
- I am frankly a little concerned about this decision. As a planning authority, Wandsworth has decided that we need more hotel space so as to accommodate the ever-growing tourist trade, which we recognise is of massve importance to the London economy. As a local authority we must also try to ensure that AirBNB is not simply a cheap, unregulated scam designed to exploit the advantages of the internet and avoid the health and safety controls operataed by hotels and yet we have to acknowledge that it is a “new, cheaper product” designed for the internet age and is enormously popular with younger, less affluent tourists – and frankly this corner site is not that ideal for permanent housing. What do you reckon?
- On 11th February, I went, with Carol Rahn leading, on a virtual
walk round historical buildings in Battersea. Carol has been advising the Council on various buildings, sites and gardens that should be given some level of historic preservation. None of the buildings were famous – if they were then they would already be preserved but this was a fun tour of Victorian post-boxes, of stink pipes, boundary markers like the two parish boundary markers shown here in Wix Lane, and of oddities and unusual designs. Carol’s walk, given under the auspices of the Battersea Society, was as ever well researched and masterfully presented – very enjoyable.
My Programme for March
- On 3rd March I have a full Council Meeting.
- On 9th March we have a meeting of the Wandsworth Conservation Area Advisory Committee.
- The Planning Applications Committee is due to meet on 24th March – if the traditional purdah for the Mayoral Election on 3rd May does not cause its cancellation.
- Look out at @MarshadeCordova for Marsha de Cordova’s tweets on notable women with connections to Battersea. There will be one each day in March and a special display on 8th March, International Women’s Day. Marsha says log in here:- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-battersea-options-and-opportunities-tickets-141971750327 and you will receive a Zoom link on the day of the event.
Did you Know:
Last month I asked where John Wesley’s bust can be found?
Not very surprisingly, stalwarts of the Battersea Society, such as Carol and Jenny, knew the answer but not many others did. It is in Mallinson Road, on the south side, east of Northcote Road. The neighbour’s house has a bust of Mallinson, of whom I know nothing. But the road name suggests to me that he was the builder responsible for many of these late nineteenth-century terraced houses.
This month’s Question relates to the
large Duval House, referred to in paragraph 4 above and pictured here. It stands opposite the Grant Road exit from Clapham Junction station and is the “cash cow” of the redevelopment which makes much of the regeneration economically viable. Do you have any idea about which local personage it was named after and what she did that made her noteworthy?
Tony Belton
Tony Belton 
“The 2012 Council plan to regenerate, ok let’s be honest about it, to demolish and rebuild the estate was agreed unanimously.” > I assume you mean by the Councillors of the PAC. Otherwise it’s a false statement if it means local residents.